In the latest episode of Shark Tank India 4, the founders of Utopian Drinks, Abhishek and Shweta Sarwate, pitched their fruit juice and smoothie brand. They aimed to secure ₹40 lakh for 1.8% equity in exchange for their fresh, immunity-boosting beverages infused with superfoods. Their goal was to position the brand as a healthy option for consumers, focusing on detoxification and boosting immunity.
However, their pitch faced significant challenges. Upon tasting the drinks, both Namita Thapar and Aman Gupta were visibly skeptical. Namita pointed out an issue with the aftertaste of some of the immunity drinks. Aman also raised concerns about the sugar content, noting that while the World Health Organization recommends a limit of 24g of sugar, their drinks contained 25g. The founders defended their product, claiming that they used “healthy sugar” in their beverages.
Kunal Bahl questioned the packaging, stating that he couldn’t understand why a customer should choose their brand over the competition. Namita was particularly concerned with their detox claims. She asked, “How did this become detox? Why are you calling this detox when there are no detox ingredients? I take these claims seriously, especially since I am from the healthcare industry. This is just juice, you can’t call it detox.” Aman supported Namita’s argument, pointing out that their nostalgia-based branding could confuse customers. Namita added that their claims could mislead consumers, and Aman jokingly asked if they were really selling detox under the guise of the term.
Anupam Mittal, however, clarified the situation with a touch of humor, stating that the reason it was labeled “D-tox” and not “Detox” was intentional. Kunal echoed his appreciation for Namita’s concern, praising her for raising an important point about misleading claims in the health food sector.
Despite their efforts to defend their product, Abhishek and Shweta didn’t receive any offers from the sharks. Kunal and Anupam suggested that they reconsider their business model to better align with market needs. The feedback from the sharks, although critical, was aimed at helping the entrepreneurs pivot their approach.
In another segment of the episode, Skate Supply India, a Chandigarh-based startup, pitched their venture to the sharks. Founded by Jaspreet Kaur Walia and Ravinder Singh Walia, the company was seeking ₹50 lakh for 2% equity. Their brand, which focuses on skateboarding products, sparked interest from Aman and Anupam. However, the negotiation took an unexpected turn when the sharks proposed including a royalty component in the deal.
The founders were not comfortable with this suggestion and firmly rejected the offer. Despite the sharks’ willingness to proceed with the royalty arrangement, Jaspreet and Ravinder decided to walk away from the table without a deal. This marked a rare instance in which the entrepreneurs stood firm on their terms, prioritizing their business vision over immediate investment.
Though neither startup secured an investment, the feedback provided valuable insights into the challenges of building a brand in competitive markets. As always, Shark Tank India continues to provide both entrepreneurs and viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the high-stakes world of startups, where every pitch is a learning experience.